Stephen A. Smith Calls Kawhi Leonard One of the ‘Worst Superstars’ After Latest Injury Setback

• Stephen A. Smith has said Kawhi Leonard is one of the worst superstars in basketball
• The NBA analyst said the Los Angeles Clippers star is unreliable due to niggling injuries
• Leonard is nursing a right knee sprain and has been ruled out for Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns

NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith is not happy with Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard. He called him one of the "worst superstars" in the NBA, asking him to retire.

The 2019 NBA champion will miss Game 4 due to a knee sprain. He sustained the injury in Game 1 and played through it in Game 2 but couldn't suit up for Game 3, a game they lost 129-124.

It is unclear exactly when Leonard aggravated his knee problem. He played around 80 minutes in Games 1 and 2 and never went to the locker room.

Ranking the top 9 moments from the 2022/23 NBA regular season

NBA

The two-time NBA Finals MVP has been plagued by injury in the last few seasons. He missed all of last season with a partially torn ACL. His teammate Paul George is also nursing a knee issue, meaning the Clippers will have to beat the Phoenix Suns without their two best players.

Leonard has averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and six assists through the first two games of the playoffs, per CBS Sports.

Stephen A. Smith blasts Leonard

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith did not hold back when talking about Leonard on his show, First Take.

He said the two-time NBA champion was unreliable.

"Kawhi Leonard should be on the list of the worst superstars this game has ever seen. Anybody that watches basketball obviously knows I am not talking about his skills. … We know that as a talent, he is a superstar… one who shows up when he plays, performs in the postseason arguably better than he performs in the regular season. But when you talk about a superstar who is unreliable, I want somebody to point me out somebody more flagrant than him,” via SI.

John Collins angers fans by comparing Steph Curry to his Hawks teammate Trae Young

NBA

During the Toronto Raptors’ incredible NBA title run in 2019, the 31-year-old played in all 24 of the Raptors' games. Since then, Leonard's availability has been shaky. He has played in 26 total playoff games for the Clippers.

Leonard's injury history

Sports Brief earlier reported on Leonard's injury history, which has been mounting in the last few seasons.

He suffered a sprained ankle in the 2017 Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors. He played a total of nine games in the following season due to a right quad injury.

He has missed games due to load management and all of last season due to a partially torn ACL.